http://www.modot.org/i44planningforprogress/ (http://www.modot.org/i44planningforprogress/) The actual study document is ~62 MB.
Couple comments:
* Another indication of how much MoDOT dislikes rest areas: having at least a 120 mile gap (page 23/484).
* From page 291/484: "There are three interchanges in the corridor that have loop ramp
configurations. Ninety-six of them are sufficient"
* Considering that the section around Pacific will reach Level of Service F next year (page 200/484), I have to wonder how well the section that widens out to six lanes in St. Louis County will perform.
In 2007 and 2008, I used to travel I-44 west of Springfield frequently (around once a month or so) and never really had much of a problem with it. Well, except for that one time this lady almost changed lanes into my fender around Joplin, but that's not MoDOT's fault...
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 03, 2009, 05:46:16 AM
Well, except for that one time this lady almost changed lanes into my fender around Joplin, but that's not MoDOT's fault...
Unless MODOT issues drivers licenses in Missouri! :-D :)
I've seen I-44 get pretty heavy between Springfield and St. Clair, but I think extending the six lane section to Sullivan and a few more climbing lanes would probably be the best fixes for the time. Main problem seems to be someone going speed limit trying to pass a vehicle under the speed limit and 10+ vehicles going greater than the speed limit bunch up behind him. Although I would like to see the section at Rolla fixed so it doesn't have that lousy 60 mph speed limit.
Oh, god, I forgot about Rolla...yes, Rolla needs a bypass or something. Such a pain.
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 03, 2009, 04:31:39 PM
Oh, god, I forgot about Rolla...yes, Rolla needs a bypass or something. Such a pain.
The Rolla section is definitely outdated. I think the US 63 interchange may have been rebuilt, but otherwise, it's generally the same as it was when it was US 66.
The section between Exits 185 (Rte E) and 186 (US 63) had auxiliary lanes added not to long ago, but at the expense of the shoulders:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.9577,-91.773863&spn=0,359.956055&z=15&layer=c&cbll=37.957412,-91.778043&panoid=f_xtgf2Gmtj5U_4iFF6l5w&cbp=12,58.782563876646954,,0,11.240234375000004 (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.9577,-91.773863&spn=0,359.956055&z=15&layer=c&cbll=37.957412,-91.778043&panoid=f_xtgf2Gmtj5U_4iFF6l5w&cbp=12,58.782563876646954,,0,11.240234375000004)
The idea was to help relieve congestion on often the bumper-to-bumper US 63.